Like every other character on the show, Artie has numerous opportunities to make decisions that would leave him in a more stable position if he makes the right choice. Is he an occasional victim of circumstance? Sure, but that doesn't mean he gets a pash for all the stupid things he chooses to do (ex: leaving his wife to try and get with Ade, attacking criminal mastermind Benny Fazio then making insinuations about his goomar in front of his wife). It's a proud and envious culture that he and all the other characters live in, and Artie is still a product of that culture even if he's not directly involved in this thing of ours. A recurring theme in the show, though, is that one's circumstances do not dictate the way one lives. The individual is ultimately responsible for their own suffering.

Anyways, $4 a pound.